One of the fantastic groups supported by Paycare is hoping to raise awareness and funds with the launch of a new charity fundraiser.
Boccia England is the national governing body for the sport of boccia – a Paralympic sport with no Olympic equivalent which is similar to bowls. It’s designed to be totally inclusive and is the only sport which can be enjoyed by players with severe disabilities or very limited motor skills.
There are many adaptations which can be made, for example for players who have visual impairments, and the sport is enjoyed by more than 50,000 people each year – with around half of those being in schools across the country.
With clubs returning to playing as Coronavirus restrictions are lifted, the fundraising team is hoping to spread the word about boccia even further by asking organisations and individuals to host Brew Up and Bake events. These can be organised at any time, date and location, and hosted either in-person or virtually, with a fundraising pack available to support hosts and a boccia quiz which can be played during the event.
There are also plenty of other ways organisations can support Boccia England, such as hosting a Boccia into Business event, which will help more people enjoy this inclusive sport.
Simon Cater, Corporate Account Manager, says of the charity (whose staff have been Policyholders since 2018):
“Sport has such a positive impact on our health and wellbeing, and Boccia England do a fantastic job in supporting thousands of people who may otherwise struggle to access any type of sport to take part in the amazing game of boccia.
“It’s a pleasure to support the Boccia England team with their own health and wellbeing through their Health Cash Plan, and we’re wishing them all the best in raising lots of awareness and funds through Brew Up and Bake.”
To see the difference boccia can make, simply watch this short video 📽🙌😊
How to play:
Boccia can be played by two individuals, pairs or groups. A white ‘jack’ ball is thrown on to the court and players then take it in turns to throw coloured balls as close to the jack as possible. The winners get one point for every one of their balls which is closer to the jack than any of the other team’s. All players are seated during the game and ramps and head pointers can be used if needed.